Origin
Dearborn, MI
Late night in Dearborn on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dearborn, MI to Union, MI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
176.6 mi
284 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dearborn, MI
Wikimedia Commons
Union, MI
Sebastián Casimiro
Trip Overview
This 176.6-mile drive from Dearborn, MI to Union, MI is a straightforward one-day trip, taking about 3 hours and 18 minutes. With 94% of the route on highways, it's a focused drive that should fit comfortably into your schedule. You can expect a fuel cost of around $28 for this journey. Given its manageable length and highway-focused profile, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Midwest region of the US.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 176.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Primarily a highway-focused drive, you'll spend most of your time on expressways and major roads, including the Detroit Industrial Expressway and US-131. The majority of this 176.6-mile journey, a significant 134.3 miles, is on the Detroit Industrial Expressway, offering a consistent driving experience. This configuration means you'll encounter a high highway share of 94%, suggesting relatively fast and uninterrupted travel for much of the trip. Expect smooth progress as you make your way across Michigan.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Detroit Industrial Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 134.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Detroit Industrial Expressway and US-131. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Schaefer Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Schaefer Road
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
136.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Industrial Expressway | 134.3 mi | 2h 23m |
| US-131 | 25.8 mi | 29m |
| US-12 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Riverside Drive | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Constantine Bypass | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Schaefer Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Chicago Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Michigan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Detroit Industrial Expressway
— 134.3 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dearborn, MI and Union, MI.
1
Start on US 12
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
Michigan Avenue
2
Turn right onto Schaefer Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Schaefer Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 94 West: Chicago
5
Merge onto I 94
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
118 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
·
Detroit Industrial Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 131 South: Three Rivers
8
Merge onto US 131
26 mi
·
29 min
·
US-131
9
Continue on US 131
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Constantine Bypass
10
Turn right onto Riverside Drive
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Drive
11
Turn right onto US 12
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Chicago Road
12
Continue on US 12
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Chicago Road
13
Continue on US 12
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US-12
14
Arrive at destination
US 12
Trip Plan
Starting your 3 hour and 18 minute drive from Dearborn in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Union, MI. With a single stop recommended, you can easily break up the 176.6 miles at a convenient point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 134 miles. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $28, so budget accordingly. This is a drive where flexibility is key; you can easily adjust your departure time based on your plans in Union.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, MI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dearborn, MI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dearborn, MI
This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Dearborn, MI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Detroit Industrial Expressway for about 134.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.3 mi from Dearborn, MI · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Detroit Industrial Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 134.3 miles.
Arriving in Union, MI
The final approach into Union, MI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Union, MI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.61 one way
$55.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.31 | $60.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.99 | $67.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.99 | $77.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.54 | $8.48 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.72 | $11.30 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Union, MI
Late night in Union on Friday
Local time
5:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dearborn, MI to Union, MI covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Detroit Industrial Expressway, US-131, US-12. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.3 miles from Dearborn, MI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.61 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Schaefer Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2 miles (I 94 / Detroit Industrial Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dearborn, MI to Union, MI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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